“Nature” does not only cover biodiversity, but equally, also geodiversity. Geodiversity is the natural abiotic portion of the planet that is all around us, including the Earth's minerals, rocks, fossils, soils, sediments, landforms and topography, hydrological features and the processes that make and modify these features. However, most people are unaware of the critical linkages between geodiversity and all life forms.
In May 2020, at the Oxford Geoheritage Virtual Conference that had over 600 participants from more than 60 countries, Prof José Brilha, Prof Murray Gray, Dr Jack Matthews and Prof Zbigniew Zwoliński called for the establishment of an International Geodiversity Day (IGD). After concerted efforts by the team, the International Union of Geological Sciences and 108 other organisations including our Association (Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong) requested UNESCO to proclaim an IGD to raise awareness of the many benefits geodiversity provides for people, society, and the environment.
On 22 November 2021, UNESCO approved the International Geodiversity Day on 6 October. To celebrate the first UNESCO International Geodiversity Day, it is our honour to have invited Professor Murray Gray, one of the drivers who persuaded UNESCO, and Mr. Alvin Ng to present about the importance of geodiversity.
Date: 28 September 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: Hong Kong Time (UTC+8:00)
15:45 - 16:00 Registration
16:00 - 17:20 Presentation, Q & A
Topics and speakers:
1. Geodiversity: redundant term or influential concept by Professor Murray Gray, Honorary
Professor, School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, UK
2. Geodiversity of Hong Kong by Mr. Alvin Ng, Geopark Officer (Education), Hong Kong
UNESCO Global Geopark, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR
Language: English
Fee: Free
Registration deadline and link : 25 Sep 2022, https://forms.gle/VmJePA2bysBreLLa8
Software: Zoom (Login details in google registration form)
Brief biography of speakers:
Professor Murray Gray is originally a glacial geomorphologist, he has developed expertise in geodiversity and its applications including geoheritage, geoconservation and geotourism. He is author of two editions of the book Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature (Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, 2004 and 2013). He is a member of the IUCN-WCPA’s Geoheritage Specialist Group and of the editorial board of Geoheritage journal. He has given invited lectures on geodiversity in USA, Canada, Brazil, China (including Hong Kong), Japan, Malaysia, South Africa and throughout Europe. He was part of the team that persuaded UNESCO to designate 6 October as International Geodiversity Day.
Mr. Alvin Ng’s academic background is in Applied Geo-Science and Environmental Life Science. He has been working in the Hong Kong Geopark team for over 10 years. His major duties include managing scientific research projects, producing tourist information system, organising education programme, promotion campaigns and public events.